Gametrack Freedom Dated By EB Games

@Esper mind tricks: Indeed.....and well said. Yeah, I totally missed the 3rd party part. My bad.

@Lozmaster: Your personal experience does not a truth make.

I've seen fans go on Gamecubes a dozen times, the PS3 is riddled with laser and controller desynch problems, the Wii went through some firmware bricking and fan problems, the PS2 was infamous for its hardware problems early on, the PSOne was infamous for having to do the upside-down trick, but failed quite a lot.

The only consoles I can think of that had a fairly immaculate record (outside of extreme abuse) were the N64 and the original XBox. (Consoles after the N64 era that is).

These things are all electronics, and they are all prone to breaking. The 360 had a huge problem, but it's mostly mended, but that doesn't render all other consoles unbreakable :)

@Razorwire_Troop: Actually, to be true to the Wii, it would have to be SquiiBallz

if we need to swing around a long white controller around to play squeeball you better give some kind of latex sheeth

@kiunch:

Ha ha! PSP-doh!

I remember the day when some other corp got flamed because of copying motion technology. good to see some genuinly new tech from ms this time around! :D

Brains

@Knoxximus (XBL/PSN): Third parties are pretty much allowed to release what they want as long as it meets the requirements that Microsoft sets forward. This isn't actually a bad move on Microsoft's part as they get to see how their audience reacts to it. I cannot see them coming out with a Wii-mote like device this late in their lifecycle. However, it does give them incite to what might happen if they do release one themselves.

@nworobes: He just wanted to be right and looked like an ass for it. Donutta has said nothing that contradicts his/her statement.

i bet it Red Rings when the batteries die

Cory Kenneth Clark

Spoke with some PDP guys at GDC and (attempted to) tried this out. It functions kinda similarly to the Powerglove in that it uses sound (like sonar) to get positional data. I say "attempted" to try because the two demo stations and the general loud din interfered with functionality.

I didn't particularly care for this, but what I really want to know is will this make my bet for the E3 pool true? Lots and lots of KP for me then. Huzzahs.

@Sam Scott Given: I'm trying to figure out how you could've misinterpreted Donutta and somehow thought that the information you shared wasn't already known by Donutta. I really can't figure it out.

nworobes

@MercerCh00x:
The only other consoles I've had break that aren't made by microsoft are...
uhh...

Oh wait, that was the problem, microsofts stuff in the console biz doesn't seem to last very long.

Lozmaster

@Desolation_Angel: The only thing that ever broke from Microsoft for me was the 360 (4 times under warranty), two headsets (warranty) and one battery pack that sort of melted (got repaid under warranty). They are ok at replacing under warranty (except for the really long wait).

@Sam Scott Given: Yeah, I know. My point is that it's not a single bar, but two light emitters at the end of the bar.

@yoshirox85: yep, i guess the bigger news to me, is that there is still an ebgames website. you would think, since its the exact same thing as gamestop.com, but with a different color theme, they would save some money, and close down ebgames.com

@CamoZombie:
Yep!
It was only a matter of time, what with the game being called Squeeballs...

Blah8

@Kounji: umm what are u talking about, did you not follow GDC 09.

here's a link about this exact same thing. [gear.ign.com]

and the only leak about this could be the exact day of the release, but its gamestop, and they are always not correct. but yes, i believe ms will show this some what, later on today.

Do me a favor and don't buy these controllers PS3 and 360 owners. There's a high chance you'll never get your money out of it and the last thing we want them to believe is that they have a chance to emulate Nintendo with awful casual games.

RiotControl

This is seriously bizarre. This whole thing has somehow flown completely under my radar. I usually like to keep track of all the Wiimote knock-offs, but I suppose that would take a lot of effort...

@Blah8: I'm leaning towards Jhonen Vasquez; because I recognize fillerbunny and come on, 'Toasted souls of the dead'

@Desolation_Angel: Oh yeah forgot one! My 360 wireless adapter that didn't work right out of the box.

That was one I'll always remember because their Customer Service told me I was lying to him, put me on hold for fifteen minutes, and then hung up.

Of course that was after he tried getting me to void my warranty by suggesting I open up the console and "poke around inside."

@Donutta: uh... nooooo.

the wii remote can actually work without the sensor bar... hell, you can use birthday candles as a replacement.

the wii remote has an infared camera and accelerometor. go look it up.

Sam Scott Given

@Dehnus: No not much experience at all...except for the four wireless mics that all died the same way...the three X-Box 360s...two of which were Elites...one of which Microsoft sent me to replace the original broken one.

Mmmm what else? Lets see...three rechargable batteries that held charges for about a month and then simply didn't ever again.

Two wireless controllers that all have the same problem...the left thumb stick registers incorrectly and the cursor/character will move forward whether the analog stick is being touched or not...

Would you like me to continue?

I could talk about my Sidewinder PC joystick if you'd like?

Previous versions of Gametrak systems sold .... what, 3 or 4 copies? Why are they trying again? Everybody who might buy this already has a Wii.

CheekyLee

@Knoxximus (XBL/PSN): Maybe you are taking yourself a little bit too seriously? Was this a big surprise for you?

tnmnsquare

@MaxDragon7: Damn your riddles! What are you saying, man!?

@Desolation_Angel:
You don't have much experience with MS hardware do you? Thier PC Hardware always was rock solid. I still have the original MS Sidewinder Controler that I use for my fighting games like Samurai Showdown 2.

Thier mouses and keyboards are also good quality. MS left the Hardware market a bit in the early 2000's. Ending thier ROuter line and other things like Sidewinder. But thier stuff was very good quality. I'm glad they are returning to that kindof stuff again, since it migth herald a return to such quality PC hardware.

Dehnus

@sampagne: It just reeks of You're in the Movies all over again to me.

Kibblez

@Blah8: uh.. Legacy of Kain? no? Vampire Chronicles?

The world is so so big..

stalin23

@Knoxximus (XBL/PSN): Well this is by a third party and not actually by Microsoft. So lets preserve their nuts and actually stick guns to them when the official motion controller/sensor comes out.

Esper mind tricks

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad):
Next thing you know they'll have Fillerbunny-themed minigames or something! You could eat the toasted souls of the damned!
>_>
(please, some one better get this reference...)

Blah8

@Kounji:

Colonization of Mars, brought to you by Nintendo.

@[www.engadget.com]
The article says that the device uses ultrasonic 3D positioning in two bars which allows it to triangulate the device's position to allow it to function better.

Pretty cool.

@Razorwire_Troop:
"Ze Squeeballs?" Is this thing french?

Esper mind tricks

Er, guys, chill out. Microsoft didn't make this; this was announced a long, long, time ago.

@Kibblez: My thoughts exactly.

sampagne

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): imagine askinga chick unfamiliar with games, if she wants to go play squeeballs back in you apartment. she ask wtf is squeeballs and how do you play it. you say "by jerking this long, shaftlike controller around" next thing you know she slaps you and calls you a perv.

whatEVER.

Kibblez

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): Easy one.

"This game comes with TWO sensors to monitor your ball-'interacting' action! Feel the uniqueness as you interact on screen with a strange motion-control device that resembles something of an adult toy!"

(Said in fast commercial voice) *Company is not liable for charges if damage to your extremities is done because of a non-compatible amount of said extremities...

...that means you have more than 2 balls doofus!*

I'll be ignoring this. Seems kind of silly really.

At least Microsoft didn't make this piece of hardware. It might actually work! And for longer than a few months after purchase!

What the hell Microsoft? :-/

Please, please don't let the 360 turn into the waggle central that the Wii has become :(

What the heck? That sounds like a porno.

...and there you have it folks. Witness as Microsoft crumples from the pressure of the Wii with it's new fangled motion controls. Why can't companies just grab their nuts and stick to their guns anymore. This is totally unecessary. For all of that early talk about how "we aren't in competiion with the the Wii"...I just that's all it was, just talk.

For shame.

@Jordan Brown: Exactly.

To be even more specific, the Wii black area at the top of the Wii remote houses a simple digital camera that tracks said light sources. It's actually possible to play Wii games without the sensor bar if there's an alternative that looks similar enough.

For example, my mom's living room has sconces on the wall that are hung in pairs. My little brother has a Wii set up in that room, and doesn't even use the sensor bar because the Wii remote tracks the wall sconces as if they were the sensor bar's IR lights.

I've also heard of people doing this by lighting tea candles on top of the television.

For what it's worth though, this new Xbox-mote probably works exactly the same, just with a wider-angle camera.

@Razorwire_Troop: that cookie is a lie ...oops

JetPogi

Is that a Wiimote?

...oh, wait, sorry lolol

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): Maybe a reference to a popular internt meme? Or... I know! a Red Ring of Death joke! Those go with everything, right?

...Damn, you're right. This is hard.

Evdor

Lame

Thats all this deserves...

ollemadnotglad

@MDX: Oops didn't read the article ;P I need some sleep.

MDX

In case Microsoft was indeed making a motion controller, this idea would be unacceptable for the company. They would force the games to be using their official controller instead.
Maybe there is no MS Remote / "Wiimote clone" in the works after all.

Lamego

This is the third party controller afaik.

MDX

Two sensor bars? I wonder how that works.
Hmm...

Finally, we can let the Xbox 360 motion control rumor to die. Now we just need a crappy PSP redesign with only 1 analog stick and no UMD so that rumor can die too.... oh wait...

kiunch

The Wii doesn't actually use sensors: the "sensor bar" actually just has two infrared LED's in it, and it's the Wiimote that does the sensing.

Jordan Brown

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): The game's name speaks for itself

@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): Maybe the game is fun as balls... or maybe after playing your balls will squeal with glee...

Either way it's disturbingly hilarious (Or hilariously disturbing)

If you go to extended information the very first line is "Squeeballsâ„¢ Basic Gameplay"....oh goody.

Man, E3 is a leaky boat right now. I was hoping we would actually get to the first press conference. So now we have a motion controller,a better wii fit, a mario game and a confirmed mgs psp game,and a new ps3. What next?

Kounji

Hm. You're playing Squeeballs by jerking this long, shaftlike controller around.

...

There's a joke in there somewhere, but damn it, I'm just not clever enough to dig it out.

Uh, the Wii uses two sensors. They're just in a big pointless bar.

Anyway, I'll be interested to see if this gets any support, especially if MS releases its own motion controller/camera.

Squeeballs?
Someone's missing a "Z" and an "e" to Fullfill the Wii copy-ness.
You'll get a cookie if ya know what I mean

@Razorwire_Troop:

Squeeze the Wiimote for maximum wii-ness power.

NekuSakuraba

seriously? the look for this thing and the name clearly speaks "badly translated Korean knockoff of wiimote found in alleyway electronics store"

@Derek Rumpler:

no, when Donutta said "the Wii uses two sensors. They're just in a big pointless bar." I assumed he meant that he thought the wii's sensors were in the actual bar, which, from the way he said it, makes total sense why I thought he said what I thought he did.

"He just wanted to be right and looked like an ass for it" I believed this is what Donutta was attempting to do.

Sam Scott Given